Bedroom makeovers inspire challenged kids

As she watched a 2011 episode of ABC-TV's "Secret Millionaire" about a struggling Tennessee nonprofit that performed magical bedroom makeovers for medically challenged children, Denise Sutherland thought to herself, "I could do that."

She shared the concept with her daughter Shana. They asked relatives who, like them, live in San Clemente and Capistrano Beach, to pitch in. The family organized an Orange County chapter of Special Spaces, a growing group that has enhanced the lives of children from San Juan Capistrano, Camp Pendleton, Norco and Newport Beach.

The reward is the kids' reactions. "They have such beautiful spirits," Sutherland said. "They just want to do things that other children do and they can't. The reward is that they are so excited when they see their room. You walk away knowing that for that time, that family has something that doesn't have to do with medical or doctors or ailments."

Helping kids is personal for Sutherland, who as a teen had seen her 14-year-old brother suffer a blood clot that eventually claimed his life at 34. "For 20 years we were in and out of hospitals," she said. "Every moment is special. I realize what the child is going through ... what the family is going through ... I was that family."

HOW IT WORKS

It's sort of like ABC-TV's "Extreme Makeover, Home Edition, on a very small scale, Sutherland said. "We interview the child and say, 'What is your dream? They can say anything they want. They tell us what they like, what their favorite colors are, and then we make it happen."

A typical makeover costs about $4,000, but the crew tries to bring down the cost by getting components of the project donated. "We raise money any way we can, through private donations, people sending checks," Sutherland said. There are benefit events and collaborations with the two other California chapters of Special Spaces.

"I had one lady last summer hold a jewelry party in her home," Sutherland said.

FIRST RECIPIENTS

In Nov., 2011, 10-year-old Morgan Johnson, a cystic fibrosis patient, chose a surf shack. Special Spaces learned about him from Sutherland's cousin Dixie Tucker, a manicurist who was chatting about Special Spaces in the salon. Someone overheard.

The group asked the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce to seek out a deserving family at Camp Pendleton. The chamber located Marleigh Melucci, a girl with Sydenhams chorea (once known as scarlet fever). In March, 2012, a Hello Kitty room suddenly appeared. "There is nobody there during the remodel," Shana Sutherland said. "When they come home from a day away, the door is closed. We tell them, ok, everybody open the door! There's always excitement. Tears. Shock. It's nice. Lots of smiles."

In Marleigh's case, "You should have heard her squeal," Sutherland recalled. "Only 8-year-old girls can make that sound. It made us cry. It was so joyful."

SPREADING THE JOY

Angel Santos, a Norco 10-year-old afflicted with cancer a third time, chose a soccer theme, the World Cup, in January. And in late February, Shira Strongin, 13, of Newport Beach, received a two-day room makeover that allows her to revel in her music even though she just underwent spinal surgery and no longer can dance.

"We turned what her mom was hoping to be a dance studio into a recording studio so she can do her music," Shana said. Special Spaces found her through an Orange County vocal coach helping organize a benefit concert. "Shira was one of her students ... she had to do vocal lessons through Skype because she was too sick to go to lessons in person," Shana said.

WHAT'S NEXT

Volunteers and donors gather at specialspacesorangecounty.org and on Facebook. The Sutherlands are about to interview their next client, a 14-year-old Moreno Valley girl who has a feeding tube and multiple digestive challenges. Next up – a Mission Viejo 10-year-old with seizures.

"It has been a huge blessing in my life to be able to help a child that is going through such an adult-type challenge," Shana said, "to create a space that is fun that they can enjoy. It's not only helping the child but helping the family."

ACCOLADES

On Feb. 21 the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce honored Denise Sutherland as San Clemente's 2012 Citizen of the Year, saluting Special Spaces' deeds. Sutherland, a resident of Capistrano Beach, is office manager for Randy Liebig Plumbing in San Clemente. Daughter Shana, a San Clemente resident, is a dental assistant with Dr. Allan Schultz in San Clemente.

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Five questions for Barbara Granoff, Shira's mother:

Q. What has Special Spaces' bedroom makeover meant to your daughter and to your family?

A. We were all touched by the time, energy, compassion and love that was shown to Shira and that was put into making her room absolutely perfect. This room gives Shira a wonderful space to hang out with friends and to make music.

Q. How did you connect with Special Spaces?

A. Shira's voice teacher nominated Shira because Shira has had to miss so many lessons because of her medical challenges. Her wonderful voice teacher, Lynn, thought it would be great for Shira to have a music room where she could make music as well as to be able to Skype lessons when she wasn't feeling well enough to leave home.

Q. What will the recording studio do for Shira?

A. It will nurture her passion for singing and song writing. It is a wonderful creative outlet for her to be able to have at home.

Q. What was the reaction when you opened the door?

A. Truly unbelievable. (Shira: "Incredible ... a perfect space.")

Q. What message do you have for the community?

A. To hear a child who struggles daily with horrific medical challenges say "I feel so blessed" says it all. Our family will be forever grateful to each of the Special Spaces volunteers who gave of their time and talents to create such a truly Special Space for my very wonderful daughter. This amazing organization is truly the silver lining in the dark cloud.

ABOUT SHIRA

Has Ehlers Danlos syndrome, a defect in her connective tissues, the tissue that provides support to the muscles, skin and ligaments. Very loose joints dislocate easily ... there is chronic joint pain. She has dysautonomia, a dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. The automatic things our bodies usually do may not be happening so automatically ... things like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, body temperature regulation, endocrine system and pupil dilation. Shira also has a very rare bleeding disorder.